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New Mexico State prepares for Alabama team with 'no weaknesses'

LAS CRUCES - When asked prior to his weekly press conference if he had wished athletics director Mario Moccia a happy birthday on Tuesday, New Mexico State football coach Doug Martin had a good response.

"Why, he's making me play Alabama. He should buy me a gift."

Coming off a 58-7 loss at No. 22 Washington State last week, the Aggies play at No. 2 Alabama on Saturday. The Aggies are 55-point underdogs and the school is collecting $1.6 million for the game.

The Aggies committed three turnovers last week and allowed over 600 yards of offense, missing 19 tackles.

"We have another opportunity against an even better football team this week to go play like a winning football team," Martin said. "I'm not so much concerned with the score as much as playing like a winning football team and not beating ourselves."

New Mexico State coach Doug Martin, right, speaks with offensive lineman Max Wilhite, left, and quarterback Josh Adkins during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Washington State in Pullman, Wash., Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)(Photo: Young Kwak, AP)

Martin said Alabama does not have weaknesses, but he hopes to see his team's competition level improve this week.

Martin, whose team has played against six SEC teams throughout his first seven seasons, compared the Alabama team to the LSU team the Aggies played in 2014.

"This is about as close as you get to playing a NFL team," Martin said. "There are no weaknesses. They are ultra talented and really well coached."

When asked if Aggies coaches call plays differently in guarantee games, Martin said coaches still game plan week by week while keeping the big picture in mind.

"You try to do anything you can do to help your team be successful," Martin said. "You don't want to get so far out of what you do that you don't get better as a team. We will also throw in some things that can help us be successful."

After two road games against Top 25 teams to open the season, the Aggies play their home opener next week against San Diego State. San Diego State is one of the top teams in the Mountain West, but the Aggies will finally be able to test themselves against a similar talent level.

"The goal for me when we play these power conference teams is that we can compete," Martin said. "At East Carolina, we beat Miami twice, we beat South Carolina, Texas Tech and Stanford in a bowl and we were a Group of Five team so it can be done. We are not there yet, but that is where we are striving to get."

Wishing Lobos coach well

University of New Mexico football coach Bob Davie had to be rushed to a hospital following UNM's victory over Sam Houston State on Saturday.

Davie was reportedly having chest pains, but is expected to recover.

"We want to wish Coach Davie a speedy recovery at UNM," Martin said. "That's a tough thing that he and his family are going through so we just wanted to send him our best wishes."

Sports Editor Jason Groves can be reached at 575-541-5459 or jgroves@lcsun-news.com. Follow him on Twitter @jpgroves.